Florida Father of Two Drowns After Swimming Into the Gulf to Rescue a Seagull Caught in His Fishing Line

A Florida father of two has died after attempting to rescue a seagull tangled in his fishing line, in a heartbreaking incident that has left his wife and two young daughters without him.

William “Stone” Romberg, 31, was fishing with friends near Carillon Beach in Florida’s Panhandle on Sunday, October 25, when a seagull became caught in his line.

Rather than leave the bird struggling in the water, Romberg swam out to try to free it. But the rescue attempt quickly turned dangerous. According to accounts shared in a fundraiser for his family, the bird and fishing hook became caught on his hand, leaving him entangled as he tried to return to shore.

A strong current pulled him farther out into the Gulf of Mexico. Despite his efforts to swim back, Romberg drowned.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that deputies responded to the incident. The tragedy occurred near Phillips Inlet, close to the Pinnacle Port condominiums, west of Panama City.

Romberg worked as a beach service manager for La Dolce Vita, a beach service and rental company at Carillon Beach. His colleagues remembered him as hardworking, kind-hearted and always willing to help others.

“Stone was a valued part of our LDV family,” the company wrote in a tribute, describing his kindness as something that left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him.

His death has devastated his wife, Taylor, and their two daughters, Hadley, 3, and Lainey, 1. The family had celebrated Lainey’s first birthday only about two weeks before the accident.

Friends, colleagues and members of the local beach community have rallied around the family. Fundraising campaigns were established to help Taylor and the girls manage the financial challenges ahead, with donations surpassing hundreds of thousands of dollars within days.

The Carillon Beach community also paid tribute to Romberg, remembering him as a cherished member whose warmth and generosity had touched many lives.

For his loved ones, the loss is especially painful because it came during an ordinary day of fishing with friends. Romberg’s final attempt to help an animal in distress ended in tragedy, leaving behind a young family and a community mourning a man remembered for his willingness to lend a hand.